Siena player Brookins told cops he stole wallet

Sophomore point guard pleads not guilty in Town of Colonie court

Updated 7:48 am, Tuesday, April 16, 2013

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Mugshot for Siena basketball guard Rakeem Brookins who was charged by Colonie police April 12, 2013 with second-degree burglary after a stolen wallet was allegedly found in Brookins dorm room. (Provided by Colonie Police) less

Mugshot for Siena basketball guard Rakeem Brookins who was charged by Colonie police April 12, 2013 with second-degree burglary after a stolen wallet was allegedly found in Brookins dorm room. (Provided by ... more

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An Albany County jail mugshot of Siena basketball guard Rakeem Brookins, who was taken into custody April 12, 2013 after being charged with allegedly having a stolen wallet in his dorm room. (Photo provided by Albany County Sheriff's Office) less

An Albany County jail mugshot of Siena basketball guard Rakeem Brookins, who was taken into custody April 12, 2013 after being charged with allegedly having a stolen wallet in his dorm room. (Photo provided by ... more

Siena's Rakeem Brookins (12), center, draws a foul from Manhattan's Shane Richards (0) as the clock winds down during their basketball game on Friday, Feb. 1, 2013, at Times Union Center in Albany, N.Y. (Cindy Schultz / Times Union)

Siena's Rakeem Brookins (12), center, draws a foul from Manhattan's Shane Richards (0) as the clock winds down during their basketball game on Friday, Feb. 1, 2013, at Times Union Center in Albany, N.Y. (Cindy

Siena's Rakeem Brookins, left, puts up a shot just out of the reach of a Saint Peter's player during their game at the Times Union Center on Sunday, Jan. 13, 2013 in Albany, NY. (Paul Buckowski / Times Union)

Siena's Rakeem Brookins, left, puts up a shot just out of the reach of a Saint Peter's player during their game at the Times Union Center on Sunday, Jan. 13, 2013 in Albany, NY. (Paul Buckowski / Times Union)

Photo: Paul Buckowski

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Siena's Rakeem Brookins, left, brings the ball up the court past Saint Peter's players during their game at the Times Union Center on Sunday, Jan. 13, 2013 in Albany, NY. (Paul Buckowski / Times Union)

Siena's Rakeem Brookins, left, brings the ball up the court past Saint Peter's players during their game at the Times Union Center on Sunday, Jan. 13, 2013 in Albany, NY. (Paul Buckowski / Times Union)

Photo: Paul Buckowski

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Siena's Rakeem Brookins, left, celebrates his last-second 3-point basket to win 57-54 over Canisius in their conference basketball game on Friday, Jan. 11, 2013, at Times Union Center in Albany, N.Y. (Cindy Schultz / Times Union)

Siena's Rakeem Brookins celebrates their win over Canisius in their conference basketball game on Friday, Jan. 11, 2013, at Times Union Center in Albany, N.Y. Brookins hits a 3-point basket to win 57-54 in the final second. (Cindy Schultz / Times Union)

Siena's Rakeem Brookins celebrates their win over Canisius in their conference basketball game on Friday, Jan. 11, 2013, at Times Union Center in Albany, N.Y. Brookins hits a 3-point basket to win 57-54 in the

Siena sophomore guard Rakeem Brookins allegedly told police the felony charges against him stem from a Saturday night earlier this month when he was drunk and went to buy marijuana but then stole his dealer's wallet.

Court documents show a series of frank and detailed statements to police by Brookins and his roommate, fellow Siena basketball player Trenity Burdine. The documents outline what led to Brookins being charged Friday with felony burglary and grand larceny.

"Yup, one night I got drunk ... sticky fingers ... that's it man," Brookins, 21, told the arresting officer, according to the papers.

He was arrested after a Siena security officer spotted the stolen driver's license in Brookins' room. The officer was called to the townhouse where Brookins and Burdine share a room to look for a stolen cellphone.

The security officer also said he allegedly saw empty bags with "marijuana residue" in them in the players' room. The Siena officer called Colonie police, who asked Brookins to come to their station for questioning. Police said Brookins agreed to be patted down before going into the police cruiser.

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"I asked him if he had anything else in that pocket that shouldn't be there," Officer Daniel Grebert said in his statement. "He said, 'Yeah 2 cards that were in the wallet.'" One of the cards was a red Keybank card with the victim's name on it. The other was a Subway card.

Grebert then asked if the cards were from the wallet. Brookins said yes and told Grebert about being drunk and having "sticky fingers" the night of the theft, according to court documents.

In his statement, Brookins said, "I went over to see (the victim) at his Town House ... to buy some marijuana. The door was unlocked and I went inside and yelled out ... but no one answered and I figured everyone was sleeping. ... I then turned my head and saw a wallet on the desk and I then took the wallet."

Brookins said he went back to his dorm and went to sleep. He woke up the next morning, went to the gas station with Burdine and filled up his teammate's tank with $67.22 in gas on the victim's card.

Burdine also gave a statement to police, saying: "... myself and Rakeem were going to buy a 40 (ounces of malt liquor) at the gas station. Rakeem bought one 40 and then filled up my car. I have no idea how he paid for the gas."

Burdine has not been charged.

Brookins also said he used the card to get a haircut.

Brookins, a Philadelphia native who started 17 games for Siena this past season, pleaded not guilty at his arraignment Monday before Colonie Town Justice Norman Massry.

Brookins was released on $12,000 bail and told to return to court on May 8.

Burdine did take part in the workout, which lasted slightly more than an hour. Patsos declined to comment on Brookins ' and Burdine's situations.

Brookins could be subject to discipline under Siena's code of conduct.

Though not willing to discuss Brookins' case, Siena said in a news release that any student charged with a crime can face sanctions including suspension, expulsion, and for an athlete, loss of scholarship.